Rocking axle with steerable stub axles



Nov. 3, 1953 M. B. BEEBE ROCKING AXLE WITH STEERABLE STUB AXLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1951 INVENTOR. Mounds. B. 55:52

A TTQQ N EYS Nov. 3, 1953 M. B. BEEBE 2,657,939

ROCKING AXLE WITH STEERABLE STUB AXLES Filed March 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 10.

INVEN TOR.

\ Manner. B. Bazes %"%0Zm, 514mm v Ua/ndaaz ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1953 M. B. BEEBE 2,657,939

ROCKING AXLE WITH STEERABLE 'STUB AXLES Filed March 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 19

INVENTOR.

BY Momzoz B. Bases ATTO Q N EYS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROCKING AXLE WITH STEERABLE STUB AXLES This invention relates to trailer vehicles, and more particularly to an adjustable trailer vehicle usable as either a two-wheel or a four-wheel trailer for agricultural and similar uses.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved trailer vehicle provided in two separate parts including a front part and a rear part which, when secured together, constitute a four-wheeled trailer, and of which the rear part alone constitutes a two-wheeled or semi-trailer, which is adjustable in length when used as a four-wheeled trailer and has an adjustably mounted rear axle which may be moved forwardly or rearwardly, particularly when the trailer is converted between its two-wheeled and four-wheeled forms, to properly balance a trailercarried load, which has a rockable front axle and steerable front wheels, which has a coupling tongue connectible to either the front part or the rear part of the trailer, which has double-tired rear wheels especially designed for agricultural use and for quick and easy changing of the tires, and which is simple and durable in construction, economical and easy to manufacture by welding or equivalent means from standard structural iron stock, and easily adjustable and interchangeable with simple and readily available tools.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a trailer vehicle illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trailer vehicle illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; I

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a rear axle Figure 11 is a cross-section view on an enlarged scale on the line ll-ll of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a platform section frame;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of a platform section shorter than the frame section illustrated in Figure 12 with a portion of the flooring broken away to illustrate the frame of the section;

Figure 14 is a top plan view similar to Figure 13 of a still shorter platform section;

Figure 15 is a top plan view of a platform section shorter than the section illustrated in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a platform section frame showing the construction of a corner of the frame;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a platform section frame showing the construction of an intermediate portion of the frame;

Figure 18 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the contacting sides of two adjoining platform section frames;

Figure 19 is a diametrical cross-sectional view through a vehicle rear wheel; and

Figure 20 is an end elevational 1 view of a fragmentary portion of one of the rear wheels.

With continued reference to the drawings, the trailer vehicle therein illustrated has a rear frame section of rectangular shape, generally indicated at H), and a front frame section, also of rectangular shape, generally indicated at H.

The rear frame section l0 comprises spaced apart and substantially parallel frame side members l2 and 13 of channel-shaped cross-section with their web portions disposed at their outer sides remote from each other. A rear cross member I4 is connected at its respectively opposite ends to the rear ends of the side members I2 and I3, and triangular gusset plates, as indicated at [5, are secured to the rear corners of the frame section l0 overlying the interconnected end portions of the side members l2 and I3 and the rear cross-member [4.

A plate It extends transversely between the side members near the ends of the side members remote from the cross-member l4 and is secured at its respectively opposite ends to the side members, this plate being so positioned that its ends extend transversely of the width of the side members substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center lines of the latter. A front cross-member l1 comprising a structural iron shape extends transversely between the side members l2 and 13 at a location spaced from the side of the plate IE remote from the rear crossmember I4, and is also secured at its opposite 9,657,939 Mil ends to the side members I2 and I3. Triangular gusset plates I8, disposed one at each front corner of the rear frame section, reinforce the connections between the side members I2 and I3 and the front cross-member II.

A tubular tongue socket I9 is secured at one end to the plate I6 substantially at the midlength location of the latter and at the side of the plate remote from the rear cross-member I4. and this socket extents through a notch provi ed in the front cross-member I1 and is rigidly secured to this front cross-member.

A rear axle 20 extends transversely of the rear frame section III below the latter and is to the side members I2 and I3 by bracket structures 2| and 22, respectively. 3;, and 24 are journaled on the rear axle 20 at the respectively opposite ends of the latter and at the outer sides of the adjacent side frame members I2 and I3.

The two-re r ax ogaiztachins b a ke s ii and 21 are substantially'identical in construction, and a det iled i lus ration and de cr p o ne n y is considered su iont f th u p es o t n eser 'dis los re- T e brack t .2 s rselected for such detailed illustration and description, and is. i lust ated i deta in Figure 9.

' The bracket 22, as particularly illustrated in Figure 9, comprises a plate 25 of trapezoidal shape. which depends from the frame side member I3 substantially perpendicular to a plane including the center lines of the frame members 12,, I3 and I4. A top plate 26 is secured at one edge to the longer, upper edge of the plate 25, and top plate 26 has along its other longitudinal edge an upwardly extending flange 21 providing with spaced apart apertures 20. A plate 29' of elongated, rectangular shape is secured adjacent one longitudinal edge to the lower, shorter edge of the trapezoidal plate 25 and two flange plates 30 and IN extend one along each side edge of the plate 80 between the corresponding ends of the plates 26 and 29. The flange plates 30 and 3| are disposed substantially perpendicular to theplate 2i and extend from the same side of this plate as that from which the plates 28 and 20 extend, and are joined at their upper ends to the plate 26 at the respectively opposite ends of the latter and are joined at their lower ends to the plate 29 near the respeotively opposite ends of this plate. This provides a bracket of reinforced, box-shaped construction.

A rectangular plate 32 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear axle 20 near the midl e ngth location of the plate, and this plate 32 underlies the plate 29 and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as the bolts 32 extending through registering apertures in the two plates 2j and 32.

The side member I3 is provided with spaced apart apertures therealong, and the bottom edge of side member rests on the upper surface of the plate 26 with the flange 21 disposed at the outer side of the web of the side member I3. Suitable bolts extend through registering apertures in the side member I3 and in the flange 21 to secure the bracket 22 rigidly to the side member I3. By means of these bolts, the bracket may be secured tofthe side member at different locations along the side member, the two most important positions being one in which the axle is positioned near the rear cross-member I4 as mufii w in full n re 10, and one i which the axl s pos t n d n th dength location of the two side members I2 and I8, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 10.

The front frame section II has two spaced apart and substantially parallel side members II and 36, also of channel-shaped cross-section, and sufliciently larger than the side members I2 and I3 of the rear frame section so that the side members I2 and I3 can be telescopically received in the corresponding side members 35 and N of the f ont frame se as i. lea y illustrated in Figure 2.

A front cross-member 31 extends transversely between the side members 35 and 36 at the front ends of these side members and is secured at its respectively opposite ends to the ends of the correside members. Triangular gusset plates 38 overlie the" adjacent end portions of the side members 3! and 86 and the front cross-member 31. and are rigidly secured to the side members and cross-member by suitable means, such as welding, to reinforce the connection between the frontcross-member and the two side members.

A rear cross-member 39 for the front frame section extends transversely between the side members 35 and 36 intermediate the length of these side members and is disposed substantially parallel to the front cross-member 21, and a plate 40 extends between and is secured to the lower flanges of the two 'channebshaped side members 35 and 36 between the cross-members 31 and I0 and adjacent the cross-member 21, with its major surfaces disposed substantially parallel to the bottom flanges of the side members.

Suitable diagonal braces or triangular gusset plates 43 extend rearwardly from the cross-member 39 to the side members 35 and 36 and are joined to this cross-member and the side members to reinforce the connection between the side members and the rear cross-member 39. W

A front axle 44 is disposed below the plate ll of the front frame section, and the front frame section is mounted on this front axle by a'bracket structure particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

The bracket structure, generally designated at 4!, supporting the front frame section II on the front aide l4 comprises two plates 48 and U. of

' trapezoidal shape having their'upper, longer edges extending along the under side of the plate 40 'near the respectively opposite side edges of the plate 40- and secured to the plate a by suitable means, such as welding. The two plates It and Y 41 are disposed in spaced apart and substantially disposed somewhat belowithe front axle M.

A pair of diagonalbraoes 2 are connected at their rear ends to the cross-member II. substantially at the midelength location of this crossmember and extend forwardly in mutually divergent relationship to the bracket plate Ii to which they are connected at their forward ends near the respectively opposite ends of this plate.

The front axle M is received between the plates 48 and H at-a location spaced from the. platelll,

and is provided substantially at its middength location with a transversely extending aperture.

The'plates 40 and 41 are provided with. apertures registering with the aperture in the front axle,

' and a pivot pin 4| extends through the registering apertures in the plates '48 and 41 and the front axle to pivotally connect the front axle tothese plates for rocking movement relative to the front frame section II- about pivot pin 48, theaxle a. of which is disposed below and substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the front frame section.

The plates 46 and 41 are thickened around the apertures therein, as indicated at 49 and 50, to provide bearings for the pin 48, and a set screw 5| is threaded through a tapped hole in the front axle and engages the pin 48 to maintain the pin against rotation relative to the front axle.

The end of the pin 48 projecting from the rear plate 46 is screw-threaded and receives a nut 52 which bears against the thickened portion of the plate 46 and the other or front end of the pin is provided with a yoke structure 53 having registering apertures therein which receive a pivot pin 54, the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pivot pin 48 and at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the front axle 44.

Front wheel spindles are pivotally mounted, one on each end of the front axle 44, and front wheels 55 and 56 of an existing type are journaled one on each of the spindles.

A drawbar 51 is received at one end in the yoke 53 and pivotally connected to the pivot pin 48 by the pivot bolt 54 and is provided at its opposite end with a bifurcated formation 58 providing a rectangular opening. Two plates 59 are rigidly secured to the drawbar 51 in the openings provided by the bifurcated portion 58 at respectively opposite sides of this opening, and a tongue socket 60 is received in the opening between the two plates 59 and pivotally connected to the drawbar by a pivot bolt 6| which extends through registering apertures in the bifurcated portion of the drawbar and in the portion of the socket 6!] received in the opening provided by the bifurcated portion of the drawbar. The pivotal axis of the bolt 6| is perpendicular to the axes of both the pivot pin 48 and the pivot bolt 54.

Steering arms 62 and 63 are secured one to each of the front wheel spindles at the respectively opposite ends of the front axle 44 and two ball formations 64 and 65 are provided in side-by-side relationship on the drawbar 51 intermediate the length of the latter and project upwardly from the upper surface of the drawbar. A drag link 66 connects the distal end of the steering arm 62 to the adjacent ball formation 64, and a similar drag link 61 connects the distal end of the steering arm 63 to the adjacent ball formation 65, so that the front wheels will be steered when the drawbar 51 is swung about the axis of the pivot bolt 54.

Since the pivot pin 48 is secured to the front axle 44 against relative rotation, the drawbar 51 will turn with the rocking movements of the front axle, and the geometry of the steering mechanism will thus not be disturbed by the rocking movements of the front axle of the vehicle.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the side frame members I2 and I3 are telescopically received at their front ends in the rear ends of the side frame members 35 and 36 of the front frame section, and the two frame sections are secured together by bolts 10, see Figure 7, extending through registering apertures in each two adjacent side frame members.

At least one pair of the side frame members is provided with a large number of spaced apart apertures, so that the bolts can be extended through selected apertures to vary the total length of the frame comprising the rear section and the front section II. These bolts have 6 wing heads H, and are threaded into nuts welded to the inner sides of the rear frame side members 12 and I3 to secure the two frame sections together in adjusted position relative to each other.

Also, in this arrangement, a tongue 12 is received at one end in the tongue socket 60 and secured therein by bolts 13 extending transversely of the socket and tongue through registering apertures provided therein.

The tongue is an elongated, tubular member 14 having a length of angle iron 15 extending along its lower side. The tubular member is received between the legs of the angle iron, as particularly illustrated in Figure 4, and the legs of the angle iron are securely welded to the tubular member to reinforce the tubular member against bending when loads are applied thereto, particularly when the vehicle is being used as a two-wheeled or semi-trailer.

-A cylindrical pin 16 is secured at one end in the tubular member 14 at the end of the latter remote from the socket 60, and this pin projects outwardly of the adjacent end of the tubular member. A clevis 19 has at one end a cylindrical sleeve portion 18 which receives the portion of the pin 16 projecting from the tubular member 14 and is rotatable on this outwardly projecting portion of the pin. A washer is secured on the pin 16 near the end thereof remote from the tubular member 14, and provides an abutment for the clevis 19. This swivel connection permits the tongue to rotate freely relative to the clevis, so that the front axle can rock about the axis of the pin 48 without rotating the clevis which is attached to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor or truck.

By removing the bolts 10, the rear frame section In can be completely separated from the front section II, and the rear unit including the frame section I 0, rear axle 20 and rear wheels 23 and 24 can then be used as a two-wheeled trailer or semi-trailer whenever operating conditions are more favorable to the use of such a trailer.

When the rear unit is used as a two-wheeled trailer, the rear axle 20 is moved forwardly by unbolting the rear axle brackets 2| and 22, moving these brackets from their locations adjacent the rear end of the rear frame section III substantially to the mid-length location of this frame section, and bolting the brackets to the side members of the frame section at the new locations, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10. The tongue 12 is then inserted in the tongue socket I9 carried by the rear frame section at the front end thereof, and the front clevis 19 of the tongue is secured to the towing vehicle. The socket I9 is rigidly secured to the rear frame section, so that the tongue will support the front end of this section against vertical movement either upwardly or downwardly, and the tongue structure including the tubular portion 14 and the angle iron portion 15, welded to the tubular portion, is effective to resist the bending stresses imposed on the tongue.

Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 show platform sections of different lengths which can be combined in different ways to accommodate the length of the platform to any adjusted length of the vehicle frame. It is contemplated that the length of the frame can be varied by approximately two-foot intervals, and the platform sections are, therefore, preferably'provided-in lengths which are multiples of two feet.

h l fis' Pl tfo m s tio il tr ted i F111- ure 12, has a rectangular frame including side rails 02 and 83 disposed in spaced apart and sub stantialfy parallel relationship and substantially coterminus with each other, two end rails 00 and 05 each connected at its opposite ends to the corresponding ends of the two side rails 02 and 00, longitudinally extending intermediate members 06 and 01 disposed substantially parallel to the side rails 02 and 83 and spaced at substantially equal distances from the two side rails and from each other, and transverse meme bers or battens '00, 05, 9.0 and 5| extending between the two side rails substantially parallel to the two end rails and spaced at substantially equal distances from the two end rails and from each other.

life members of the platform section frame are preferably formed of pieces of hard wood of elongated, rectangular cross-sectional shape, and these members are connected together at their ends by angle iron connectors, as particu' larly illustrated in Figure 16, and designated at 02. Each angle iron connector is provided each leg with a-plurality of spaced apart apertures and is secured to the associated platform frame members by suitable fasteners, such as the screws or bolts '03, extending through the apertures in the connector and engaged in the wooden members.

The'stringers and 01 andthe battens -00 to SI, inclusive, are provided at their intersection locations with rectangular-notches, as particularlyillustrated in Figure -1"1,:and designated at 90, for one of the stringers, for example, the stringer 01, and at 95"for-one of the battens'for example, the'batten 00. The members are illustrated as being of the same width, and eachnotch extends half-waythroughthe width ofthe corresponding member sothat when each of -two intersecting members is engaged inthe notch of 'the cone sponding member, the'upper'edges of allof the platform frame members are substantially in onecommon plane, and the lower edges are in another common planesubstantially parallel'to the first-mentioned plane.

The platform frame section illustrated nil l "ure 13 is similar in construction to that illustratedtln Flgurel2. and described above, except that the section illustrated in;Figur.e 13' has only one intermediate batten. vThe section illustrated'in Figure 14 is of the same construction, exceptthat it'has no. intermediate batten, .the distance between its two end members being the same as the distance between two adjacent battens or between a batten and-the'adjacent'end member of .the platform frame sections illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. The section illustrated in Figure 5;has a length less than the distancebetween two adjacent battens and includes a single end member from one side'of which the side rails and stringers extend. This section is used only for "filling out the ends of the platform and has a length substantiallyequal to the interval of adjustment, such as two feet, of the length of thetrailer'frame combination.

Each end member of the various platform frame sections is provided with spaced apart apertures, and these apertures are so located that when two platform frame sections are placed in end-to-end relationship, the apertures in one end rail of one of the sections will each register with a corresponding-aperture in the contiguous end rail of the adjacentsection.

t registering apertures in the two contiguous end rails and wing nuts, as designated at 01', are threaded one on 'each of these bolts to firmly secure the two platform frame sections rigidly together.

The upper surface of each platform frame section is covered by suitable flooring, as designated at 91 in Figures 13 and 14.

The width of the platform sections is greater than the width of the frame sections I0 and II of the vehicle, so that the edges of the platform extend outwardly beyond the side rails of the two frame sections and overlie the wing formations "II, so that these formations will not have a tendency to catch in clothing or present any hazard of personal injury to persons using the vehicle.

The platform sections are secured to the vehicle frameby suitable means, as by clamp bolts, not illustrated, secured to the intermediate stringers of the platform sections and extending under the side rails of the frame sections of the vehicle.

As stated above, the rear wheels 23 and 24 are of special construction, and one of these wheels, for example, the wheel 20, is illustrated in detail in Figures 19 and 20.

The rear wheel, as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20, comprises a central ring I00 of cylindrical shape having outwardly beveled edges MI and I02. A disc I03 is received in the ring I00 and extends transversely of the ring at the mid-length location of the latter. At its periphery the disc I03 is welded to the inner surface of the ring, as indicated at I04, and at its center, the disc carries a hub, not illustrated, which receives an arbor on the corresponding end of the rear axle 20.

Two cylindrical tire rims I05 and I06 are disposed one at each end. of the ring I00, and each of these rims has its edge adjacent the ring securely welded to thecontiguous edge of the ring, the two rims and the ring being coaxial with each other. The rim I 05 has at its respectively opposite edges flat bands I01 and I08 which are raised above the outer surface of the intermediate portion of the rim and receive the beads of a tire I09 mounted on the rim. The rim I05 has corresponding bands H0 and III which receive the beads of a corresponding tire H2. The beveled edges of the ring I00 provide retaining walls for the adjacent sides of the tires I09 and Il2, and an outer ring 3 is detachably secured to the outer edge of the rim I05 to provide an abutment for the outer side of the tire I05, while a similar outer ring II4 is detachably secured to the outer side of' the rim I00 to provide an abutment for-the outer side of the tire Il2.

Asparticularly illustrated'in Figure 18, inwardly directed lugs II} are provided at substantially equal intervals around the outer edge of each of the rims I05 and I06, and each of these lugs is provided with a screw-threaded aperture H6. The outer rings I2 and I I4 are provided with angularly spaced apart apertures and lug bolts II! extend-through the apertures in the outer rings and are threaded into the apertures in=the-lugs I I5 to detachably secure the outer rings to the corresponding rims to secure the tires on the rear wheels.

With the rear wheelconstruction particularly illustrated and described, the tires are easy to remove and replace and are spaced apart for efllcient operation on soft ground when the vehi- 'Bolts;as indicated at 9!; are extended through I 'cleis used for agricultural purposes. If the ground should be suflicientl soft for the tires to sink into the ground, the wide ring I will provide additional tread area to support the wheel.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, and the present embodiment is, therefore, tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a trailer vehicle having a frame including side members, a cross member extending transversely of said frame adjacent the front end thereof and secured at its opposite ends to said side members, a pair of plates depending from said cross member in spaced apart relationship to each other and extending longitudinally of said cross member, a front axle disposed between said plates, said axle and said plates having mutually registering apertures therein, a pivot pin extending through said apertures and connecting said axle to said plates for freedom of rocking movement of said axle relative to said frame about said pivot pin, a yoke formation on the front end of said pivot pin, a drawbar pivotally connected at its rear end to said yoke formation, a tongue socket pivotally secured to the front end of said drawbar, front wheel spindles pivotally mounted one on each end of said axle, front wheels journalled one on each of said spindles, steering arms extending one from each of said spindles, and means connecting said drawbar to said steering arms for steering movement of said front Wheels upon pivotal movement of said drawbar about the pivotal connection between said drawbar and said pivot pin.

2. In a trailer vehicle having a frame including side members, a cross member extending transversely of said frame near the front end thereof and secured at its opposite ends to said side members, a pair of plates depending from said cross members in spaced apart relationship to each other and extending longitudinally of said cross member, a front axle disposed between said plates, said axle and said plates having mutually registering apertures therein with the aperture in said axle disposed at the midlength location thereof, a pivot pin extending through said apertures and connecting said axle to said plates for freedom of rocking movement of said axle relative to said frame about said pivot pin, a yoke formation on the front end of said pivot pin, a drawbar pivotally connected at its rear end to said yoke formation, a tongue socket pivotally secured to the front end of said drawbar, front Wheel spindles pivotally mounted one on each end of said axle, front wheels journalled one on each of said spindles, steering arms journalled one from each of said spindles, and means connecting said drawbar to said steering arms for steering movement of said front wheels upon pivotal movement of said drawbar about the pivotal connection between said drawbar and said yoke formation, said axle being secured to said pin, the pivotal connection between said drawbar and said yoke formation being substantially perpendicular to the axis of said pivot pin and to a plane including the longitudinal center lines of said frame side members, and the axis of the pivotal connection between said drawbar and said tongue socket being substantially perpendicular to the axis of said pivot pin and to the axis of the pivotal connection between said drawbar and said yoke formation.

MONROE B. BEEBE.

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